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The Historical Reach of the Cross – Hebrews 11:39-40

“And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” The examples of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 all anticipated a greater future hope, but saw only preliminary glimpses of what God promised. Specifically, their faith anticipated the new covenant realities of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, Son of God, with his superior priesthood and the consequent eternal perfection of the faithful. The perfection of the faithful (believers) is the goal that was accomplished through the work of the perfect Son of God on the cross. The believers of the new covenant along with the faithful saints of the Old Testament partake together of the same end-times perfection: redeemed people in resurrection bodies. So the cross of Jesus that has power to reach forward two thousand years into the future to save you and me also has the power to reach thousands of years into the past to save those who believed the promises of God.